To this day scientists have not been able to figure out the exact cause of breast cancer. However, we fully understand that nutritional deficiencies, exposure to environmental toxicity (xenoestrogens), generic alterations BRCA1/BRCA2, chronic inflammation, the influence of endocrine-disruptors, carcinogens, a compromised immune system, and estrogen dominance play a major role.

According to the National Cancer Institute this year, an estimated 231,840 women in the US will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and 60,290 women will be diagnosed with in situ breast cancer. An estimated 2,350 men in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

So what foods should you eliminate from your diet for your best chances at breast cancer prevention? Here are the major offenders:

1. Sugar

Considering that most of the refined sugar in the united states is sourced from sugar beets, and most beets are now GMO’s you should say your last good byes to sugar immediately. I am sure you’ve seen the infamous picture of the lab rats with tumors on their chests. What do you think they were fed? Yep, Genetically Modified foods.
As a result of the anaerobic respiratory technique presented by virtually all cancer cells, sugar is cancer’s preferred food!

This is yet another reason to avoid processed white poison at all cost. If there is a history of cancer in your family, have or currently dealing with cancer, I encourage you to stop consuming sugar immediately– no matter what your anyone (including your Oncologist) says.

Skeptical? I don’t blame you. There is lots of fear mongering in this field and misinformation. I’d like to encourage you to educate yourself further by watching The Truth About Cancer – LIVE Starting Oct. 13th through October 21st, and learn how renowned scientists, functional and alternative medicine authorities, and survivors talk in detail about the culprit.

Avoid white sugar, brown sugar, agave (yeah agave is as bad as HFCS) and all artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, Amino Sweeet, aspartame, and sucralose.

If you love sweets, it’s wise to stick with natural sweeteners, but be mindful of their glycemic index. Some of my favorites are:

If your goal is to achieve optimal health you need to moderate your sugar consumption to ensure that it doesn’t have a negative impact in your today and later on.

2. Pesticide-laden Fruits and Vegetables (Non-Organic)

Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without using dangerous herbicides, pesticides, molluscicides (slugs and snails). However, that is not the case with “cheaper” conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, and we are being exposed to these poisons more than ever.

In 1962 Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring exposed the hazards of the pesticide DDT. At that time everyone managed to reduce the use of pesticides and its exposure — only to see an alarming increase in the use of them a few years later. Her book meticulously described how DDT entered the food chain and accumulated in the fatty tissues of animals, including human beings, and caused cancer and genetic damage.

In this recently peer-reviewed paper by Environmental Sciences Europe, Chuck Benbrook, research professor at Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources shot down that claim. Herbicide-resistantcrop technologies have lead to (527millionpounds) spike inherbicideusewithin the united statesranging from1996and2011, whereasBtcropshaveloweredinsecticideusesby123millionpounds. Overall, pesticideusebyapproximately404millionpounds, or7%.

3. Unfermented Soy

Women all over the world– especially those following a vegan or vegetarian diet have turned to soy because soy is a “healthy food”. However, in 1997 scientist at the Health Sciences Research Division in Tennessee, became aware of a potential concern when they discovered cytological detection of epithelial hyperplasia in 7 of 24 women, during the months they were consuming soy protein isolate.

[box title=”Hyperplasia ” style=”noise” box_color=”#e9e9e9″ title_color=”#2d5d20″ radius=”12″]Hyperplasia is also known as epithelial hyperplasia or proliferative breast disease. It’s an overgrowth of the cells that line the ducts or the lobules. Based on how the cells look under a microscope, the hyperplasia is called either ductal hyperplasia (also called duct epithelial hyperplasia) or lobular hyperplasia. source[/box]

Goitrogens. Like many vegetables, soy contains substances that can block or reduce the production of thyroid hormones, thus affecting other hormonal balances.

Phytic Acid. This anti-nutrient binds with minerals in your body and removes them. An over-consumption of foods with phytic acids can caause a depletion of essential minerals.

Oxalic Acids. A high concentration of oxalates can produce inflammation, resulting in discomfort, and can prevent the absorption of calcium, an essential nutrient.

Enzyme Inhibitors. These substances block the ability of the body’s natural enzymes to break down food into nutrients that can be assimilated.

Over-consumption of any type of food containing these substances can cause nutritional imbalances. However, the fermentation process breaks down enzyme inhibitors, produces phytase which neutralizes phytic acid, and decreases the goitrogenic properties of soy. Because of these changes, most traditional Asian soy recipes involve fermentation. (source)

In conclusion this pilot study indicates that prolonged consumption of soy protein isolate has a stimulatory effect on the premenopausal female breast, characterized by increased secretion of breast fluid, the appearance of hyperplastic epithelial cells, and elevated levels of plasma estradiol. These findings are suggestive of an estrogenic stimulus from the isoflavones genistein and daidzein contained in soy protein isolate.

If you must eat soy — I don’t know why anyway, opt for organic, Non-GMO fermented soy. If it doesn’t say those words in the packaging or you know your local farmer’s soy is organic; skip it.

4. Conventional Dairy (Farmed Cows)

Any time you consume dairy products and meat from CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations ) you increase your risk of developing several diseases including breast cancer. Why? because you will be eating what those animalsate, the antibiotics they were pumped as well aspesticides, growth hormones and everything in between. Instead, choose grass-fed beef, and dairy to reduce the chances of toxins going into your body, which in turn will reduce the risk ofbreastcancer.

5. Avoid Drinking Alcohol Excessively

Drinking alcoholic beverages increase estrogen levels in your body. Alcohol may increase the risk of estrogen-sensitive cancers advise health authorities, including estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer. Other than the estrogen connection, alcohol itself is believed to be carcinogenic, or cancer-causing.”

This rule applies to hard liquor, beer or any type of wine. It is the alcohol that matters, not the kind of alcohol you are consuming.

For breast cancer survivors, some early research studies advised, at the very least for ER-positive breast cancer, the likelihood of recurrence increases each time a woman has more than a couple of drinks a week. This truly is considerably below the standard health recommendation that women consume no more than a drink a day.

[quote][animate type=”bounceInUp”] Prevention: Cancer prevention is the action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer.

To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective factors. Anything that increases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer risk factor; anything that decreases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer protective factor. (Source) [/animate][/quote]

6. Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s)

GeneticallyModifiedOrganisms (GMOs) are animals or plants where its DNAhas been manipulated, in waysthat can’ttake place in natureas well asconventionalcrossbreeding. This is done typicallyas a way to make them resistant tochemical pesticidesorproduceaninsecticide.

GMO’s have been linked to organ damage, gastrointestinal disease, and all types of Cancer– including breast cancer. Contrary to Monsanto’s claims that the development of GMO’s has reduced the use of pesticides– We are more exposed to glyphosate- a xenoestrogen than ever.

In the first groundbreaking study led by molecular biologist Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen in France, was published in 2012 in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology demonstrated clear evidence that GMO’s lead to Cancer.

The health effects of a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize (from 11% in the diet), cultivated with or without Roundup, and Roundup alone (from 0.1 ppb in water), were studied 2 years in rats. In females, all treated groups died 2–3 times more than controls, and more rapidly. All results were hormone and sex dependent, and the pathological profiles were comparable. Females developed large mammary tumors almost always more often than and before controls, the pituitary was the second most disabled organ; the sex hormonal balance was modified by GMO and Roundup treatments.

At this point, it is safe to say that if you haven’t switched to all organic or at least 80%– now is the time. Buy two organic tomatoes vs five conventional, grow your own, visit your local farmers and most importantly; be proactive in your quest to a healthier you.

7. Artificial Sweeteners

Aspartame has a profound adverse neurologic, cardiopulmonary, endocrine, and allergic effects, according to a recent issue of the Texas Heart Institute Journal (source)

Aspartame or AminoSweetis aneurotoxic or rat poison is made by joining together the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are found naturally in many foods.

Splenda (sucralose) has been marketed for years as made from sugar, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Splenda is achlorinatedsyntheticsweetenerconsistent withaspartame, that is apparently notasdetrimental to your health.

I personally do not use and would never recommend artificial sweeteners. Instead, use organic stevia leaf extract in a non-alcoholic base, swerve, raw local honey, organic pure maple syrup, lakanto even xylitol.

8. Vegetable Oils

Research by the International Journal of Cancer found that compounds known as heterocyclic amines (HAs) present in fish and cooked animal-based proteins don’t appear to increase a woman’s likelihood of developing breast cancer immediately after menopause.

Having said that, even consuming small amounts of these compounds in conjunction with high intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are found in nearly all types of vegetable oil, margarine (most commercial cake, muffins and junk food) may in fact increase the chance for postmenopausal women to develop breast cancer, warned researchers at Lund University, Malmo.

Furthermore, a 2012 study at the Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital found that subjects who consumed vegetable oils increased the risk of cancer two years and then five years into the study vs those who consumed animal fats.

The good news? You can now confidently cook and consume organic Pastured butter– I repeat pastured butter, ghee, coconut oil (I like this one), avocado oil, and of course EVOO

9. Farmed Fish (Salmon, Tilapia)

Farmed fish is bad news in many levels. Not only do they have to be pumped with antibiotics and medications to keep them from getting sick due to confinement, they are stressed because of the same reason.

The Environmental Working Group who is the authority in product and foods safety and conducted studies on farmed salmon from grocery stores found on average 16 times the dioxin-like PCBs found in wild salmon. Farmed salmon is likely the most PCB-contaminated protein source in the U.S. food supply. PCBs cause cancer and were banned in the United States in 1976.

So how do you prevent Breast Cancer or reverse the progression if you’ve been diagnosed?

For Breast cancer prevention: Start making lifestyle changes and eliminate the culprits above right now!

If you’ve been diagnosed or have battled cancer: A good place to start would be to find a Functional medicine practitioner or wellness center nearby and begin a holistic- alternative medicine protocol suitable for YOUR particular condition. Make the appropriate lifestyle changes and eliminate the foods listed above for a higher chance of healing, and even reversing the disease.

Question: What foods have you eliminated from your diet from this list or in the process of to Prevent Breast Cancer? What else would you like to add to this list?

Enjoyed this post and learned a few things? Get more like this via my healing tips newsletters and join over 10,000 readers already healing from the inside out.

Thanks for linking, sharing and reading.

To Your Best Health,

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Other Resources to Prevent and Target The Root Cause of Breast Cancer

Oncoblot: For second, third, fourth, opinion or to find out your risk of developing breast cancer accurately you can look into

Bobbi~
You are welcome. Glad you will be eliminating Agave from your diet as it is highly processed and as bad as HFCS as you can see. Yes, it is a shame but no worries– we are slowly but surely taking the masks off. The Food Babe and LabelIt specially.
I am humbled by your kinds words- that’s why I love what I do. Thank you for the kind words.
Yes Stevia and the raw natural options are better. Oh you can find it at your local natural store or here in my amazon store under HEALTH CONDITIONS==> Diabetes Prevention- Reversal.
Thanks for your support. ♥

Yes, the food companies are very good when it comes to marketing something as “healthy, natural, etc..” About 90% if not all of the Tilapia that we consume here in the US is farmed too. Awe thanks for the nice words- I do want to keep us all informed. We are all in this together. My pleasure love- glad to know you now have the tools to a more natural healing journey. xo

I think the most important thing you can take away from this article is to keep it natural and to know your source. The more processing something has to go through the more detrimental it will be to your health.

It is my pleasure. I am super excited to hear that you’ll be implementing some of the suggestions here for preventive measures! That’s what’s all about, and like I said in the article even if you are battling Cancer you still benefit from these lifestyle changes.

These recommendations are good healthy recommendations, not necessarily for breast cancer treatment or prevention. As a physician, I can tell you the body works in many complex ways and diet is one component. Your recommendations are good ones but I would be clear that they are not specific for any one disease.

Thank you for your feedback Debby. This particular article is aimed at Breast Cancer prevention and reversing the disease via Nutrition not “diet”– which plays a very important role in fighting Cancer… if not the number one role. Healing Cancer obviously requires particular protocols, lifestyle changes, and rarely and as a last resort–surgery. Because at this point many of us know and there is research behind it see Chemo and Radiation Can Make Cancer More Malignant

As a Health and Wellness researcher and writer for over 10 years now, I can tell you that peer-reviewed studies are evidence of the link between a poor lifestyle and Breast Cancer. (Let’s focus on that because that’s what this article is about). I agree that the body works in complex ways, and can confidently say that lifestyle changes will reverse Cancer and any other disease. (I’ve written about it and there is plenty of evidence on it out there).
Peer review studies fully support the fact that many Cancers can be prevented via Nutrition and lifestyle alone:Excerpt from Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet: It has been estimated that 30–40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Obesity, nutrient sparse foods such as concentrated sugars and refined flour products that contribute to impaired glucose metabolism (which leads to diabetes), low fiber intake, consumption of red meat, and imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats all contribute to excess cancer risk. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk.

Allium and cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial, with broccoli sprouts being the densest source of sulforophane. Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll, and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin). Ascorbic acid has limited benefits orally, but could be very beneficial intravenously. Supplementary use of oral digestive enzymes and probiotics also has merit as anticancer dietary measures. When a diet is compiled according to the guidelines here it is likely that there would be at least a 60–70 percent decrease in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and even a 40–50 percent decrease in lung cancer, along with similar reductions in cancers at other sites. Such a diet would be conducive to preventing cancer and would favor recovery from cancer as well.

My recommendations are specifically for breast cancer due to the effects these foods have on women’s bodies. If you read the entire article, I link to the data and resources explaining why each food or other components (pesticides) have been linked to Breast Cancer. Like the article above mentions–conventional treatments like Chemo and radiation aren’t necessary in most cases. So yeah, these recommendations aren’t specific to one disease– I want to clarify that they should be avoided altogether– the sooner the better in order to prevent all other diseases. 🙂

That’s great to hear. Aren’t those docu-series amazing? Well, I have good news for you. This October I will be part of the docu-series as well and will be posting information on my social media channels about it. Keep an eye so you can watch them again. They are all different every year. It is my pleasure!

That’s right! I mention these and other foods in most articles because they are literally the root cause of chronic inflammation. Haha that last part was candid! Don’t cringe, just change the mindset a little bit, and indulge once in a blue moon. Again, keeping in mind that healthier choices are a priority.

Thanks for this useful post. I do not use most of the things you’ve mentioned. I replaced the sugar with Artificial Sweeteners, and then I found out that it was equally bad. I recently started using Stevia.

You are welcome :). Lovely!! It puts a huge smile when I read that most of you embrace the knowledge, and make positive lifestyle changes. That’s how it’s done woo hoo! I don’t blame you– I did the same. Used equal with my parents (both Diabetic) for prevention measures way back when and it turned out to be poison. Augh! I did help my body detox from that via natural protocols. Stevia works, have you tried Lakanto? I love it and swerve.

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